Bin dispenser



- y 1959 I J. F. KNOTT.ETAL 2,888,145

BIN DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1953 May 26, 1959 FiledDec. 30, 1953 J. F. KNOTT ETAL BIN DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSJ. Fred/(1102! & Simon Hese/ov 1 TTORNEY May 26, 1959 J. FIKNOTT ETALBIN DISPENSER Filed Dec. 30, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Ga /(Hm? &Simon Hese/ov ATTOR EY United States Patent BIN DISPENSER Joseph FredKnott and Simon Heselov, Youngstown, Ohio Application December 30, 1953,Serial No. 401,132

7 Claims. (Cl. 21149) This invention relates to a dispenser and moreparticularly to a dispenser in which canned goods and the like may beplaced for continuous dispensing to a predetermined point.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a bindispenser.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bin dispenserformed of a plurality of substantially identical members, assembled inspaced side-by-side relation to form one or more storage and bindispensers.

, A still further object of the invention is the provision of'a bindispenser which may be formed of molded plastic parts and is capable ofbeing positioned on a store counter in a retail store to simultaneouslyhold a stock of a given product and continuously dispense the same toself-serving shoppers.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bindispenser formed of a relatively few parts which can be easily assembledto encompass a desired number of storage and delivery bins whereby anumber of varieties of a product such as, for example, baby food, may beconveniently positioned and delivered.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bindispenser in which various sizes of containers may be accommodatedthrough the assembly of the bin dispenser to encompass various spacesbetween the principal units thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bindispenser which may be inexpensively formed from two principal moldedsections and a plurality of identical spacing members to accommodatecanned goods in one or a desired plurality of bins.

The bin dispenser disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the artof retail merchandising and particularly that pertaining to retailgrocery stores.

As known in the art, the advent of the so-called super market has madeit necessary for canned goods to be stocked on store counters in suchmarkets so that it may be conveniently handled by the prospectivepurchaser. There is no great problem in stocking merchandise shelves andcounters with canned goods of normal size. A problem does exist inattempting to stock small sized containers such as those in which babyfoods are customarily packed. These small glass jars or metal cans are(llfi'lCUlt to handle particularly in stacking and the prospectivepurchaser frequently upsets a stack thereof with the resultant damageand inconvenience.

, The problem has become acute to the point that the producers of suchbaby foods have undertaken to keep the retail stores stock in positionin the conventional stacks and to the end that attractive uniformdisplays of the merchandise may be had. Such practice is costly to themanufacturer and it is not particularly desirable from the retailerspoint of view as they must contend with personnel not under theircontrol stocking the shelves and displays in their premises andfrequently to the disadvantage of other merchandise. Additionally, theretailers inventory control of the item stocked is dependant upon themanufacturers representatives rather than upon his own employees and theretailer is, therefore,-.concerned with the problem of improving thestocking and display of such merchandise as well as rendering it moreconvenient to the prospective purchaser. The present invention comes asa solution to such problems as it comprises a dispenser of attractiveappearance which presents the product attractively and uniquely and,more importantly, it maybe placed on the top shelf of a counter such asused in a super market so that the goods therein are readily availableto the prospective purchaser and at the same time it in no wayinterferes with the display of adjacent merchandise. More importantly,the retailers own stock boys can re-stock the bin dispenser with littleor no effort and the principal difliculty herein: before found, that ofdanger in handling, is completely eliminated as a prospective purchasercan secure his requirements from the dispenser with no danger ofupsetting a stack of loosely piled containers. The broad idea ofpositioning items of merchandise in a bin has heretofore been proposedbut the complicated constructions developed for the purpose haverendered the same incapable of use from an economical standpoint whereasthe present disclosure relates to a bin dispenser which may beinexpensively formed from a minimum of identical parts whether one binor a dozen are required and the same parts may be used to form binshavingdifferent spacings to accommodate different sizes'of containers,if desired. With the foregoing and other objects in view which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructionhereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover allchanges and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosenfor purposes of the disclosure, which do not/c onstitute departures fromthe spirit and scope of'the inven tion. v The invention is illustratedin the accompanying draw ing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bin dispenser formed oftransparent plastic material. I I

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the vertical sections of the dispensershown in Figure l. Figure 3 is a front view of two of the verticalsections of the dispenser shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the variousinterconnecting means thereof in exploded relation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detailthrough one of theinterconnecting members of the bin dispenser; By referring to thedrawings and Figure 1 in particu lar it will be seen that a bindispenser has been illustrated which comprises a plurality of verticallypositioned plate-like body members 10, 11 and 12 assembled inhorizontally spaced relation to one another so that oppositely disposedtrack units 13, 14 and 15 formed'thereon are able to receive and retaincylindrical objects such as containers of baby food and the like.

The vertically positioned plate-like body members 10 and 12 areidentical withv one another with the exception that the body member 10has track units 13 on one of its sides while the body;member 12 hastrack units 14 on the opposite side with respect thereto. The verticalbody member 11 has track units 15 on both of its sides. It will thus beseen thatthe track units 13 on the inside of the body member 10 are inhori: zontal registry, although spaced horizontally, withire spect tothe track units 15 on the adjacent side of the body member 11. i It willbe seen thatthe track units 14 on the inner sides of the body member 12are in horizontal registry although spaced horizontally with respect tothe track units on the opposite side of-the body member 11. Theconstruction disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings therefore providestwo roll down racks or trackways, each of'whichwill receiveand retainandcontinuously deliver aplurality of cylindrical containers such as theone'shown in broken lines in the lower right hand portion of- Figure 1.

Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be seen that thetrack units 13, 1515 and 14 are multiplied, in effect, vertically on themembers 10, 11 and 12, respectively, so that the track unit 14 runsalong the inner lower surface of the member 12 with a substantiallyhorizontal forward end portion and a major portion inclined upwardlyfrom the front to the back thereof and terminating in an upwardly andforwardly curving end section.

A second track unit 14A formed on the inner side of the member 12 isspaced vertically above the initial track unit 14. It is of a shorterlength than the track unit 14 and it is provided with an upwardly andrearwardly curved end in oppositely disposed relation to the upwardlyand forwardly curved end on the initially mentioned track unit 14. Theoppositely disposed pattern of track units continues upwardly, thesuccessive upward layers being indicated by the numerals 14B, 14C and14D and ME.

The track units 14A and 14C are identical in size and arrangement andpositioned with the exception that they are spaced vertically. The trackunits 14, 14B and 14D are identical with the exception that they arespaced vertically and with the further exception that the track unit 14has a forwardly extending portion on its forward end which comprises apoint of delivery such as indicated by the positioning of therepresentation of the cylindrical container.

The track unit 14B is identical with the track units 14A and 14C withthe exception that the upwardly and inwardly curved end section is cutoff midway thereof and at a point even with the top surface 16 of themember 12. The front and back edges 17 and 18 of the body member 12 arecurved to comply with the general formation of the track units andparticularly the upwardly and inwardly curving end sections thereof.

The body member 10 is exactly like the body member 12 except that thetrack units 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and 13B are formed on the oppositeside of the body member 10 with respect to the body member 12 sothat apair of the body members 10 and 12 may be positioned in horizontallyspaced relation and form a single roll down track or trackway (notshown). Alternately, the pair of body members 10 and 12 may be spacedfurther with respect to one another, as illus trated in Figure 1 of thedrawings, and an intermediate member such as the member 11 positionedtherebetween so that two vertical roll down racks or trackways areformed.

The vertical member 11 has track forming units 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15Dand 15B formed in oppositely disposed relation on its sides whichregister horizontally and in spaced relation to the track units 13 and14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D and 14B heretofore referred to. It will thus beseen that in the two-bin dispenser as illustrated in Figure 1 of thedrawings the three basic vertical members 10, 11 and 12 are utilized toform two adjacently positioned roll down racks or trackways, each ofwhich will receive, retain and continuously deliver a plurality ofcylindrical containers.

In Figure 2. of the drawings a side view of the vertical member 10 maybe seen. It will be observed that its front edge is curved to follow thecurving end sections of the track units 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and 13E andas such is indicated by the numeral 19, the back edge. by the numeral 20and the top by the numeral 21.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the plan view comprising aside elevation of the member 10 in Figure 2 of the drawings will beexactly-the sameas the plan view of the member 11 with the track units15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 15E and also the same as the side view of themember 12 with track units 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D and 14B and with theexception that in the latter instance the said track units would appearin lighter lines as being in the inner or opposite sides of thetransparent body member.

In Figure 3 of the drawings the body member 10 is illustrated with thetrack units 13 thereon. The body member 11 is illustrated with the trackunits 15 thereon and a plurality of apertured circular bosses 22 will beseen to be formed on the inner side of the body member 10, the outer'sides of the body member 11 and the inner side of the body member 12,which apertured circular bosses are adapted to receive and retain theends of the tubular spacing members 23-23. Tie rods 24-24 are positionedthrough the apertured bosses 22 and the members 10, 11 and 12 lyingwithin the spacing members 23-23. Butterfly nuts or similar fasteners 25are applied to their outermost ends, as shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings and in enlarged detail in Figure 4 of the drawings, to hold theassembly together.

It will be seen that when the assembly is thus rigidly held together,cylindrical containers may be placed in the uppermost portions of thebins thus formed. Thecontainers will progressively roll downwardly onthe track units 13E, 15E and ME, over the track units 13D, 15D and 14Dbeing guided thereonto by the upwardly and forwardly curving endportions thereof and subsequently across the track configurations 13C,15C and- 14C, 13B, 15B and 14B, 13A, 15A and 14A, and ultimately ontothe track units 13, 15 and 14 where they will roll to foremost positionas illustrated in Figure l of the drawings which comprises a deliverypoint.

It will be observed that the height of the unit plus the length of eachof the plurality of track units therein enables a considerable quantityof cylindrical containers (for example, jars of baby food) to bereceived and re tained in magazine fashion in each of the bins of thedevice.

It will further be seen that when the foremost container is removed fromthe delivery point, the next successive container will roll intodelivery position and eachof the containers in the device will move oneposition.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the three basic moldedplate-like members 10, 11 and 12 plus the indicated number of spacingmembers 23 and tie rods 24 will permit the formation of a bin dispenserwith any number of bins desired, thereby achieving one of the principalobjects of the invention.

It will also be apparent that the structure is relatively free ofmaintenance as periodic replenishing of the containers therein comprisesthe sole servicing necessary.

Dust and foreign objects entering the device are not retained therebydue to the fact that each of the bins is substantially open verticallytherethrough and is thereby self-cleaning as well as being readilyavailable for attention if necessary.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have beenmet by the bin dispenser disclosed herein.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A dispensing bin comprising vertical horizontally spaced moldedplates each having a front edge, a bottom track unit integral with eachof the opposing inner faces of the blades adjacent to the bottomsthereof, said track units being in spaced parallel relation andcooperating to form a complete trackway, each track unit comprising-asubstantially horizontal forward end portion and an up wardly andrearwardly inclined portion terminating in an upwardly and forwardlycurving arcuate part, a vertically spaced series of other track unitsintegral with the inner face of each of the plates above the said bottomunit thereon and comprising in upward progression from the bottom unitalternate forwardly and upwardly inclined and rearwardly and upwardlyinclined straight portions each having a free transverse end edge withthe forwardly inclined portions each terminating at its other end in anupwardly and rearwardly curving arcuate part and the rearwardly inclinedportions each terminating in an upwardly and forwardly curving arcuatepart, each of said transverse end edges being located at approximatelythe radial center of an arcuate track unit part, the said other trackunits on one plate being parallel with those on the other plate andforming complete trackways leading downwardly to the first trackway,each of said plates having a lower portion of the front edge extendingforwardly and the said substantially horizontal forward end portions ofeach bottom track unit being continued along the inner side of theforwardly extending portion and terminating in an upturned stop, andtransverse elongate connectors between and detachably connected to theplates and rigidly holding the plates in predetermined spaced parallelrelation.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein each of said plates hasan apertured boss integral therewith at the end of each connector andeach connector comprises a tubular member receiving a boss in each end,a tie rod extending through each tubular member and passing at each endthrough an apertured boss to the outer side of the adjacent plate andmeans removably attached to at least one end of each tie rod on theouter side of the plate to secure the tie rod against removal.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein each plate and the unitsthereon are all molded in one piece.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein each plate and the unitsthereon are all molded in one piece of a transparent material wherebyall articles in the bin may be seen.

5. A dispensing bin comprising vertical horizontally spaced molded endplates and at least one intermediate molded plate, each plate having afront edge, a bottom track unit integral with the inner side face ofeach end plate and with both side faces of the intermediate plate, eachtrack unit comprising a substantially horizontal forward end portion andan upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion terminating in an upwardlyand forwardly curving arcuate part, all of said track units being inparallel relation and cooperating to form two complete trackways, avertically spaced series of other track units integral with each of saidfaces of the plates above the bottom track unit thereon and comprisingin upward progression from the bottom rack unit alternate forwardly andupwardly inclined and rearwardly and upwardly inclined straight portionseach having a free transverse end edge with the forwardly inclinedportions each terminating at its other end in an upwardly and rearwardlycurving arcuate part and the rearwardly inclined portions eachterminating at its other end in an upwardly and forwardly curvingarcuate part, each of said transverse end edges terminating atapproximately the radial center of an armate track unit part, the saidother track units on the end and intermediate plates having a parallelrelationship and forming between the intermediate plate and each endplate complete trackways leading downwardly to the first trackways, eachof said plates having a lower portion of the front edge extendingforwardly and the said substantially horizontal forward portion of thebottom track unit for each end plate being continued along the forwardlyextending portion of each plate and terminating in an upturned stop, andremovable, elongate connectors between the end plates and theintermediate plate connecting the plates in separable relation wherebythe spacing between the plates and the width of the trackways may bechanged by substituting connectors of a different length.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each plate and the unitsthereon are all molded in one piece.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each plate and the unitsthereon are all molded in one piece of a transparent material wherebyall articles in the bin may be seen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS335,689 Ferron Feb. 9, 1886 599,205 Vause Feb. 15, 1898 848,868 TramaApr. 2, 1907 1,932,225 Minter Oct. 24, 1933 1,985,739 Murray Dec. 25,1934 2,158,641 Stenberg May 16, 1939 2,159,905 Moningcr May 23, 19392,417,631 Campos Mar. 18, 1947 2,427,958 Gibson et a1. Sept. 23, 19472,515,378 Nicolle July 18, 1950 2,551,424 Donald May 1, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 437,771 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1935

